Switzerland
Bern · Central Europe
Switzerland is a country in Europe. Its capital city is Bern, the official currency is the Swiss Franc, and the main language is German.
With a population of roughly 8.8 million people spread over 41,285 km², Switzerland is the 101st most populous country in the world and the 132nd largest by area. That works out at about 213 people per square kilometre.
Switzerland shares land borders with Germany, France, Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein — 5 neighbours in all. Its largest urban centres are Zurich, Geneva and Basel. The highest point in the country is Dufourspitze, at 4,634 metres.
For scale, it covers almost exactly the same area as Netherlands, while its population is closest to that of Sierra Leone.
- Capital
- Bern
- Region
- Central Europe
- Population
- 8,800,000
- Area
- 41,285 km²
- Currency
- Swiss Franc
- Main language
- German
- Highest point
- Dufourspitze
4,634 m - Land borders
- 5
Switzerland: things worth knowing
- Switzerland has four official languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh.
- It is a direct democracy where citizens vote on referendums several times a year, and it joined the UN only in 2002.
- Bern is the seat of government, but the country has no formally designated capital city in its constitution.
Switzerland in context
Europe has 44 sovereign countries in total. Switzerland ranks 19th among them by population.
See the full list of Europe countries, or browse all 195 countries.